The Pluses of Prototyping

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017

Today, our topic is prototyping. For a lot of folks, prototyping feels like a waste of time, creating something with the possibility of failure. For another perspective, take a look at this TED talk given by Tom Wujec, a global leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

How does this apply to Seattle Makers? Around here, we take ideas that have been sitting around for years and start them. We practice imperfection. We prototype again and again. It takes seven iterations on average for a product to make it to it’s final version. Take this blog post as an example; this paragraph is on it’s second, no wait, third, actually fourth version already. The first version got totally scratched and is being turned into another blog post altogether.

We are a place for tinkering. For embracing the I-have-no-idea-how-to-make-this-and-I’m-just-going-to-start-and-learn-from-it…
… and start again and learn from it …
… and start again and learn from it …
… and start again and learn from it …
… and start again and learn from it …
… and start again and learn from it …
… and start again and voila!!

When you look at all those start-again’s, seven feels like a lot, doesn’t it? You probably wanted to give up reading partway through that paragraph. How many projects have you gotten three iterations into and thrown up your hands? “I’ll never get this right…”

Here’s our very own Jeremy Hanson with a story about 3D printed pens that went through several iterations…